The Ultimate Skin-Care Routine for People With Beards and Facial Hair

While many may assume having facial hair is considered low maintenance (less shaving leads to less stress, no?), growing a beard actually comes with its own set of special skin-care concerns. Take, for instance, dry skin, irritation, and acne.

"One of the most common issues I see as a dermatologist is acne, which, in the beard area, is called pseudofolliculitis barbae," Shari Marchbein, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells Allure. "This occurs when hairs that are shaved or plucked get trapped under the skin, causing a cascade of inflammation," Marchbein explains. These ingrown hairs can show up as little red bumps, pustules, or painful cysts.

These bumps aren't technically the same as the pustules caused by clogged pores that pop up in hair-free areas of your skin, since they're caused by different things. "If skin is shaved, waxed, plucked, or threaded, it can irritate the skin as the sharp hair grows through the skin," Jennifer MacGregor, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells Allure. This causes the itchy, red razor bumps, which, if they become infected, can become pustular and look more like acne.

Dandruff and dry skin are also common issues caused by facial hair. This is because it is sometimes "more difficult to thoroughly cleanse, as well as moisturize, under facial hair," Marchbein says. That said, we tapped the experts to find out how to take care of the skin under (and around) your facial hair.

If you're still breaking out, see a board-certified dermatologist for some extra help — you might need something stronger or an oral medication, MacGregor says.

2. Be mindful of how you shave.

To help cut down on inflammation (and bumps) it pays to be mindful of how you groom your beard — both in terms of the products and the technique you're using. At the bare minimum, you should be changing your razor blade ever two to three shaves, Marchbein says. And most importantly, make sure you're shaving in the direction of hair growth.

3. Upgrade your tools.

One of the best things you can do to care for the skin under your beard is to resist trying to get a super-close shave when you're trimming things up. "Using [something like the] Bump Fighter razor — a special razor that does not allow a completely flat, close shave — is very good for those who are prone to ingrowns and especially those with curly hair," Marchbein says.

You can also use an electric razor to leave a bit of stubble, which will help prevent bumps. "Laser hair removal will usually eliminate the issue completely," MacGregor says.